CLEARFIELD – In the last few lazy days of summer just days before 9-year-old Casey Wilsoncroft entered the fourth grade at Clearfield Elementary School, the young man proved himself to be courageous and responsible beyond his years.
On Aug. 14, Casey’s 21-year-old cousin, Jenna Malone, was home from Fayetteville, N.C., where she was stationed with the U.S. Army. Malone was riding a dirt bike on Mann Road in Lawrence Township that day when tragedy struck. Malone had an accident that resulted in fatal injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Before the last chapter of the story was written, though, Casey dialed 9-1-1 to get help for Malone.
“I was really afraid,” the bespectacled boy said of the August day when he received a commendation from state Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, and the Clearfield County Commissioners on Friday.
George said that Casey “showed us just exactly the courage, ability and fortitude that a lot of times we don’t see in children as young as he.
“You have shown to all of us the best capacity of love, courage and compassion,” George said.
“Words are sometimes really shallow,” said Clearfield County Commissioner Rex Read in noting that Casey handled the situation extremely well.
Read and Clearfield County Commissioner Mike Lytle also presneted citizenry recognition commendations to Dave McClure, the 9-1-1 operator who spoke with Casey through the emergency, and Mike Spencer, a volunteer with Lawrence Township Fire Co. and a Lawrence Township police officer.
“Both men would say, ‘I was just doing my job,’ but they went above and beyond,” said Read.
Spencer and Casey forged a bond through the incident, and the pair has visited together a few times since.
“I really like him,” Casey said of Spencer. “He’s kind of like a big brother.”
“He’s a great kid,” Spencer said.
“He responded so well for only being 9,” McClure said.
Both Spencer and McClure were humbled by their recognition Friday. “I’m very honored, however I was just doing my job, and I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary that I don’t do every day,” McClure said.
Casey said one of his favorite things to do today is ride dirt bikes, but he says he is very careful when doing so. In fact, the young man whose favorite subject is science said he would like to become a professional dirt bike rider.
And to the other chidren who might have to face similar circumstances, Casey said: “Try your best.”